Ballyallaban Ring Fort is an earth fort, thus the name it is usually called: An Rath. Surrounded by a fosse (a generally flooded moat or defensive ditch), the fort was built up and may have had a protective fence of sharp pointed stakes.

While earth structures are the most common type of ancient monument in Ireland, they are rare in the rocky Burren area.

The fort can be found by taking a trek down a half-mile grassy pathway from the Killaloe-Scarrif Road, through a mostly wooded area, and the place feels detached from the modern world when the trees are in full leaf. The site is impressive in the height of the outer side of the banks, and is fairly expansive in size. Apart from a small amount of litter, the site is in good condition.

An Rath is in good repair and has a very well developed canopy of trees, mainly mature beech, with a deep trench all around which occasionally fills with water.

Irish fairy advocates have focused on promoting laws preserving sites of ecological and historical importance, while publicly warning of the consequences of angering fairies. One such example, the Ballyalban Ring Fort, has been preserved for historic reasons, but local fairy communicators hold that it's guarded by a pooka in the shape of a pony. Pookas are malevolent fairies which take the shape of animals. There are also tourist attractions like Brigit's Celtic Garden preserving fairy forts for human enjoyment and protection, and their fairies are apparently far more benevolent.

- Extract from: Fairy Forts, Dens, & Glens: When Places Are Preserved by Mythical Belief -